Romans 1

Before setting off on our adventure through Romans, we need to refresh our memories on something we learned in the introduction - that Romans is addressed to immature believers, those who are just getting into the word, those who are coming out of the world looking for answers. The importance of this truth cannot be overstated and the reasons will become abundantly clear as we work our way through the book. If you are someone out there in the world who is lost, trapped, alone, afraid, or looking to escape from a messed up life, and you are looking for answers, you've come to the right place. I don't care what you've done or where you're coming from or how terrible a person you think you are, there are solutions to everything and you will find them here. If you're a religious cretin who thinks I'm going to hell because I swear, please fuck off back to your pharisee infested shithole church. Right, let's get into Romans.

Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant [doulos] of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Paul opens this epistle by letting us know that he was a bondslave in the service of Jesus Christ. To understand what Paul is saying here we need to understand their culture. They had no social security, no welfare system, no free money handouts from government of any kind. Instead, they implemented a system whereby if you ran out of money or went out of business you could work as a servant for someone for a period of time. In return your master would take care of you and your family's needs, including clothing, food, and housing. At the end of six years your period of service would expire and the master of the house was then required to give you your freedom and pay you a lump sum that would be enough to start your own business again. It was a good system that worked well for everyone.

This arrangement certainly was not the tyrant and slave model we understand today, rather this was a highly revered social arrangement which was welcomed by both parties. When the relationship ended, there was even a provision for the servant to keep his job permanently if he wanted to. If the servant had built up such a relationship with his master that he loved his job so much that he didn't want to leave, there was an option for him to remain as a servant within the master's household for the rest of his life. If the servant chose this option he would have his ear pierced so all would know he was a servant for life in the service of his master, a doulos, a bondslave. Incidentally, this is where the custom of women piercing their ears and wearing earrings originates.

This lifetime of service was a highly regarded social position that carried honour and prestige, and such servants were highly valued and usually held high office within the master's household. This was the most revered relationship possible between an employer and an employee.

Paul was a bondslave for the Lord Jesus Christ, yes, but he wasn't some ill-treated piece of property that had been kidnapped and sold against his will to work in the employ of a tyrant. Rather, this was the highest position in life to which he could possibly aspire, a position that carried tremendous prestige, honour, and responsibility. To enable him to carry out his spiritual responsibilities as a bondslave of Jesus Christ he was given the gift of an apostle. It was this gift which separated him, or set him apart to devote his life to the word of God as a servant of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant [doulos] of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

There are five gift ministries to the church - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These are not gifts to the individual, but gifts to the church as it says in Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:11,12
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

These gift ministries are not gifts to men as special favours to them, they are gifts to the church. Ephesians doesn't say for the perfecting of the men or women receiving the gifts, it says for the perfecting of the saints. It doesn't say for the work of the men and women receiving the gifts, it says for the work of the ministry. It doesn't say for the edifying of the men and women receiving the gifts, it says for the edifying of the body of Christ. These are gifts to the church, to the believers, to the saints, to the body of Christ, not to the men and women entrusted with them. Having such a gift doesn't make someone special so they can strut around with a flashy nametag, it sets them apart as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ for a lifetime of service to the church. That's why the gift ministries are gifts to the church not to the men and women receiving them. Now we can remove the erroneous punctuation in Ephesians 4:11 and read it again.

Ephesians 4:11
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers;

Before going any further, it is important that we understand that Jesus Christ is the subject of the book of Romans. In fact, he is the subject of every book of the bible. In Romans he is the believers justification. Here he is in every book of the bible.

Genesis - the promised seed of the woman
Exodus - the passover lamb
Leviticus - the high priest
Numbers - the star to rise out of Jacob
Deuteronomy - the two laws: love thy God and love thy neighbour
Joshua - the Captain of the Lord of Hosts
Judges - the right of every man's eyes
Ruth - the kinsman redeemer
Samuel - the root and offspring of David
Kings - the greater than the Temple
Chronicles - the King's son
Ezra - the rebuilder
Nehemiah - the rebuilder
Esther - the deliverer of God's people
Job - the daysman
Psalms - the song of every man's heart
Proverbs - the wisdom of God
Ecclesiastes - the one among a thousand
Song of Solomon - the bridgegroom of the bride
Isaiah - Jacob's branch
Jeremiah - Our righteousness
Lamentations - the unbeliever's judgement
Ezekial - the true shepherd
Daniel - the stone that became the head of the corner
Hosea - the latter rain
Joel - God's dwelling in Zion
Amos - the raiser of David's tabernacle
Obadiah - the deliverer on Mount Zion
Jonah - The man raised from the dead
Micah - the Lord of Kings
Nahum - the stronghold in the time of trouble
Habakuk - Our joy and confidence
Zephaniah - Our mighty Lord
Hagai - the desire of the nations
Zechariah - our servant, the branch
Malachi - the son of righteousness
Matthew - the messiah
Mark - the servant
Luke - the man
John - the son of God
Acts - the gift of holy spirit
Romans - our justification
Corinthians - our sanctification
Galatians - our righteousness
Ephesians - our spiritual standing
Philippians - our adequacy
Colossians - our completeness
Thessalonians - our glorification
Timothy - the faithful man
Titus - the fellow labourer
Philemon - the love we share
Hebrews - the high priest for sin
James - the royal law
Peter - the pastor
John - our advocate
Jude - the beloved
Revelation - the king of kings and lord of lords

As we work our way through Romans, keep in mind that Jesus Christ being our justification is the subject of the book.

Romans 1:1,2
Paul, a servant [doulos] of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

Here the word tells us God promised to send Jesus Christ in the holy scriptures, which means all the holy scriptures, not just in one or two books. The scriptures, the bible, the word of God concerns his son Jesus Christ who is our Lord. Jesus Christ is the subject of the bible as well as every book in the bible.

Romans 1:3
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Jesus Christ is the promised seed of the woman of Genesis, who came out of the tribe of Judah through the lineage of David. An important and exciting truth we can dig out of the word here is that Jesus Christ was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, not according to flesh and blood, and this concurs with Acts.

Acts 2:30
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

This is an extraordinary truth because all children who are born into this world don't just take the flesh from their parents, they also take the blood. The sperm from the father carries that blood to the egg in the mother and that's why all children partake of both flesh and blood when that egg is fertilised. The blood comes from the father and the flesh from the mother.

Hebrews 2:14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Look at the accuracy of the word here! We partake of flesh and blood, but Jesus Christ did not, he only took part, and the part he took was the flesh which he got from his mother. Jesus Christ did not get any blood from Joseph or any other man, his blood came from God and that's why he is God's son.

Romans 1:4
And declared [horizō] to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

The Greek word horizō means to determine, to mark, to brand. God marked Jesus Christ as his son by the resurrection from the dead. It is the resurrection from the dead that marks out Jesus Christ as God's son. Look, God did not raise Buddha from the dead. God did not raise Muhammad from the dead. None of the popes have ever been raised from the dead. God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and it is through the resurrection from the dead that God declared Jesus Christ to be his son.

Romans 1:5
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Grace is a characteristic of God, part of his personality, something he extended to us, yes, but grace is also used as a noun in reference to the gift of holy spirit. We all have the gift of holy spirit, God's grace, and it is holy spirit that enables us to be obedient to the faith, which refers to the faith, or the perfect believing of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's believing was perfect, ours is not, so to differentiate between our imperfect human believing and the perfect believing of Jesus Christ we refer to his believing as faith. We are obedient to that faith when we live the word and walk by the spirit.

Romans 1:6.7
Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This opening salutation by Paul clearly addresses to whom he is speaking. The epistle isn't only addressed to the believers in Rome, it is also addressed to the beloved of God who are called saints, which includes every born again believer in the family of God since he wrote this epistle, and that includes us today. This is addressed to the church. Here we also see that God and Jesus Christ are two entirely separate individuals. Jesus Christ is not God. Those who worship Jesus Christ as God are idolaters because worshipping a man as God is idolatry. Idolatry is the cornerstone of all so called Christian churches today so get out of them and stay away from them. Listen to how Jesus Christ spoke to the church leaders in his day.

Matthew 15:7-14
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Let them alone: [stay away from them, tell them to fuck off] they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

If you don't want to be blind and groping around in a ditch, stay well away from religions and their shithole churches. Back to Romans.

Romans 1:8-12
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith [believing] is spoken of throughout the whole world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith [believing] both of you and me.

It is clearly evident from these verses that when Paul wrote this a very special and intimate loving and caring family relationship existed among the believers. If we could emulate such a relationship in our home churches today the word would live again just as it did in Paul's day.

Romans 1:13
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let [hindered] hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

There is a powerful figure of speech at work here. Rather than say now, I would have you to understand Paul states it in the negative to get our attention now I would not have you ignorant. There are 7 such usages in his epistles where God states in the negative that he does not want us ignorant, and 7 being the number of spiritual perfection highlights these usages in a remarkable way. GOD DOES NOT WANT US IGNORANT. He couldn't shout it any louder! Of what does he not want us ignorant?

He doesn't want us ignorant of the benefits of the gift ministries (Romans 1:13), the mystery (Romans 11:25), the consequences of unbelief and idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:1-11), manifestations of holy spirit and the gift ministries (1 Corinthians 12:1), how he delivers us in times of pressure (2 Corinthians 1:8), satan's devices (2 Corinthians 2:11), and our hope, when Christ comes back for us (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  I think that just about covers everything. If people are ignorant, it is not God's fault.

Romans 1:14
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

We need to think of Greeks here as Gentiles because that context is firmly set in verse 13 where Paul mentioned that he wanted fruit among the Gentiles in Rome as well as Gentiles in other areas. God's classification of people is Judean, Gentile or Church of God. That's it. Every person on earth in God's eyes is either a Gentile, a Judean or Church of God.

1 Corinthians 10:32
Give none offence, neither to the Jews [Judeans], nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Everyone is born into this world either a Judean or a Gentile, and anyone who is a Judean or a Gentile can be born again and become part of the Church of God. In verse 14 he mentions Greeks and Barbarians, which was basically a cultural reference to educated and uneducated Gentiles. It makes no difference to God if someone is educated or not, being educated is not required to become a child in the family of God. So when we read the word 'Greek' in his epistles we can think of it as somone other than a Judean, in other words a Gentile. It isn't always quite that simple, but hellenists, also often translated Greeks, were Judeans who spoke Greek. It gets a bit complicated and I really don't want to start delving that deeply into cultural and social distinctions as the point Paul is making here is that there is no difference between Judeans or Gentiles when it comes to the word of God. For example, Samaritans were half breeds, and there were other Judean half breeds who returned after the exile. Then there were Judeans who married Gentiles. Timothy was a home church leader in the first century and he had a Judean mother and a Gentile father. See, it makes no difference to God, that's the point Paul makes throughout his epistles. So, to keep things simple I'm going to always refer to Greeks as Gentiles.

Today we have no social or class distinctions between Judeans and Gentiles as powerful as they did back then. Well, Jews today have their heads up their arses about it, but that's not God's fault. Whether they like it or not, Jesus Christ was their messiah and they had him murdered by the Romans. Good enough reason for a divorce in my opinion. If they come back to the scriptures and believe God raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead they would be born again and become part of the Church of God.

Ephesians is addressed to believers who were called out from among both Judeans and Gentiles to become part of the church of God.

Ephesians 2:10-22
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

So although there are distinctions between Gentiles, they are all Gentiles, and as there are distinctions between Judeans, they are all Judeans according to God's classification of people. Men have different classifications for men and divide humanity into many groups, like nationality and culture, race and religion, but God only divides men into three general categories and that's why we can think of Greeks as Gentiles throughout Paul's epistles. I'm really not going to delve any deeper into this as I'm here to teach the bible, not ancient cultural Judean history.

Romans 1:15-17
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew [Judean] first, and also to the Greek [Gentile].

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith [believing] to faith [the perfect believing of Jesus Christ]: as it is written, The just shall live by faith [believing].

The just living by faith is a quote from the Old Testament so pistis should be translated believing in that instance because there was no faith in the Old Testament. Faith came with Jesus Christ so there is no such thing as faith in the Old Testament. The first usage in Romans 1:17 should also be translated believing because it is referring to human believing. The righteousness of God is revealed when men believe and receive God's righteousness which comes with the gift of holy spirit we receive by faith. Jesus Christ's perfect believing, which we now refer to as faith, is that which allows us to believe to receive the gift of holy spirit, and it is in the receiving of that holy spirit that God's righteousness is revealed. This isn't complicated so take a moment to think it through. Jesus Christ believed for us to have the gift of holy spirit in the new birth. His perfect believing, his faith made it available. Now we can believe to receive it because of his faith, his perfect believing. When we are born again and receive that gift of holy spirit we receive the righteousness of God. How do we get it? Simple, and it doesn't matter if we are a Judean or a Gentile, this is available to everyone.

Romams 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved [sōzō - made whole].

Jesus Christ being our justification is the subject of the book of Romans. When we receive the righteousness of God in the new birth, which his faith made available, we are justified. Justification is the legal side of righteousness. It can be understood as just as if we hadn't sinned. When we are born again we are righteous, and it is legal because we are also justified. We are no longer guilty of anything. We receive the righteousness of God when we receive the gift of holy spirit.

Romans 1:18,19
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

The wrath of God being revealed refers to the book of Revelation, also known as the revealing or appearing, which is still future. When Jesus Christ comes back to gather the church and we leave earth in our resurrected bodies, the Revelation Administration will begin on earth and it will not be pleasant. The events that take place during the Revelation period will culminate in a final battle called Armageddon during which every single human being on earth will die, and it will not be God's fault.

Revelation 9:20,21
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

With the publication of my Walking by the Spirit trilogy of books, Walking by the Spirit, Teachings in the key of Life, and Let there be Light, God's Word has been made manifest, made clear and evident to everyone on the entire planet. My work has been released to the public domain free of charge to the whole world. I have made an accurate knowledge of God's word available to everyone on earth, which is a first in the history of the world. Never before since Genesis has the accuracy of God's word literally been made available to everyone on earth.

Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Anyone anywhere on earth with an internet connection has access to an accurate knowledge of God so there are no excuses. Even people in Antarctica can read my work and find the knowledge of God so there are no excuses for anyone.

Now God makes it very clear why those who absolutely refuse to believe his word and tell him to ram his bible up his arse have no excuses and are worthy of death.

Romans 1:21,22
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Yeah, they have PhD's in this and MA's in that, and BS's in this and diplomas in that, but without a knowledge of God and his word they are fools who only think they are wise. Nothing wrong with an education, of course, but the word has to come first. Nothing in life is of any value without an accurate understanding of the scriptures. Once the word is first in your life, then yeah, a PhD or an MA or a BS or a handful of diplomas is wonderful.

Romans 1:23-25
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature [creation] more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Worshipping the creation rather than the creator is evident everywhere these days. People all over earth worship mother nature, mother earth, or Gaia as they sometimes call her. They praise her, sing songs to her, give their lives to her, put all their money into environmental movements to save her, and build political parties to force through green policies to keep her happy. That is worshipping and serving the creation rather than the creator, and it carries dire consequences.

Romans 1:26-28
For this cause God gave them up unto vile [repulsive, repugnant, putrid, disgusting] affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature [lesbians]:

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly [homosexuality], and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind [an insane mind - to commit homosexual and lesbian acts is criminally insane], to do those things which are not convenient;

Next God lists a few characteristics, a few traits, habits, and emotions that homos and lesbians exude. Sound familiar? This is where the world is going and homosexuality is where it originates.

Romans 1:29-32
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Verse 32 clearly states that homosexuals and lesbians are worthy of death. That is explicit and clear and it concurs with many other scriptures.

Leviticus 20:13
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

I don't give a fuck what the ACLU or the UN or the Red Cross or amnesty international or any government or NGO or human rights organisation says to the contrary, the word is clear. Homosexuality is a disease which will destroy any country which becomes infected with it. They know this which is why they are systematically corrupting you. They are doing it so they can destroy you and steal your countries.

At the beginning of this teaching I mentioned that I didn't care where you've come from or what you've done in the past. Well, neither does God, but if you want to be a believer you are going to have to change your ways. God doesn't care about your past, only where you are now and where you want to be tomorrow. If you worship Lucifer, tell that shithole to fuck off. Make the decision to change, and a good place to start is right here by expunging your head and your heart of any homo, lesbian or trans filth. Just change, and God will be there for you.

I don't care if you are a homo or a lesbian or even a trans, change your ways and you will be forgiven. If you were born a male, you are a male, if you were born a female, you are a female, that's it, end of story. If you've had the operation, well, that's something you're just going to have to live with. It's your heart that matters, not any appendages men may have stitched onto you or removed. Come back to God and you will be forgiven.

Psalm 103:8-12
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.